~Eternity~ (Note; press space when at the notes part of the story.) And so the aforementioned day came. It could not be said that Erlendur not just a little bit anxious. The day both seemed to pass to slowly and to pass not quick enough. As the sun began to set, and the moon began to rise, taking the night and stars in tow, Erlendur's excitement rose with it. As the night finally claimed the sky, Erlendur set off on his mission. He snuck past the sentries, the misty snowfall creating a cloak of disguise perfect for his task. The moor hills were blanketed in snow, ranging from a paw paws to half a wolfs height in depth. Although the journey was a struggle, he raced and pushed and plowed forward with all his might, leaping and bounding over the heights of snow and across the moor. Soon enough, his destination was in view. The permafrost plains and their stunted green grasses poking through the layer of snow was soon in view. He slowed his pace, growing nervous. Would the she-wolf not show? Would she truly keep her word? Was this actually an elaborately designed trap for him, so that he maybe he would be captured and bargained for land? Such practice was not uncommon, though dishonorable. Or perhaps she would simply not appear at all, nor the prey. These thoughts tumbled around his head like a midwinters storm.Yet his nerves were calmed by the rustling of tall grass, which then parted to reveal Aulay. Aulay, which in her jaw dragged by the leg a small deer. His chest welled with joy. She had indeed proved to hold her word. "Thank you, Aulay. This is very much appreciated. My gratitude to you is high." He said after inspecting the specimen. He did not worry about the preys scent betraying its origin; dragging it through his packs territory for the few hours of the return journey would see it adequately reset. The brown wolf stood there for a short while, her wide green eyes studying him. He eyed her curiously in return, his head cocked just a slight. "For my honor." She said simply, and in less than a heartbeat from her having said it, she was gone. He looked after her for just a few long moments after, before turning to begin hauling the load. Such a prize would well feed at least a half dozen wolves, and rationed, could double that count. He hauled the deer across the border, feeling relieved to be safe in his own grounds again. As he reached the rim of the first hill in moor, he set down the prey and glanced back, to see the lean figure of Aulay racing across her flatlands , the winds whipping through her fur, towards her camp. After watching her run for perhaps a few moments longer than he should've, he forced himself to look away, pick up his prey , and continue along his course. Weeks passed, turning to fortnights, which soon passed along as well which led to months. Every meeting, she would say that same thing, "for my honor." and vanish into the night. Yet on the meeting of the first month, Aulay dared say something more: "Erlendure, have you a name?" She asked, her eyes curiously searching his own. Erlendur froze, closed his eyes, and turned his head away. He was well of age to have a name, and surely she carried one too. "I have not a name." He replied. Although he could not see her, Aulay cocked her head just a slight, and said in return: "Nor I, Erlendur of the East Winds." Surprised, he opened his eyes and turned to look to her. But by the time he had, she was already gone. ~Chapter 6~ Their meetings continued without miss. Erlendur began to look forward to the next meeting, for but a few short moments with the mysterious green-eyed wolf. The cold, harsh, unforgiving winter seemed to be passing faster for him than he would have liked. And as these months drew by, their meetings grew more and more intimate. They would ask the odd question, if only it gave them a good reason to prolong their meeting if only a few moments longer. Even Aulay was disheartened each time they had to depart, though this to Erlendur she never betrayed. As the warm winds threatened the coming of spring, everyone in the North Winds pack rejoiced; all but Erlendur. For him, the coming of warmth and prey meant only the end of his meetings with the green-eyed wolf. A fortnight from the official end of the Winter cold, Erlendur set out for their meeting. His paws felt both ecstatic at seeing her again, and heavy at the thought this was the second to last trip to their meeting place. Yet something felt amiss as he approached the clearing. As he padded into the usual meeting place, his heart sunk to the earth. Aulay wasn't there. Being a quite punctual wolf as she was, she was hardly ever late. This was why he was worried so by her absence. Panic and fear rushed through him. Had she been injured? Had she caught the winter disease? Had she been caught by her pack?
He waited a few moments longer, then made his decision. ~Chapter 7~ He narrowed his eyes in determination, and charged over through the warmer land of the East Winds pack. Soon, the dim firelight emitted from a single cave caught his eye, and, assuming this must be the camp, he dashed for it. Slinking round the back and keeping to the shadows, he creeped into the camp. His heart raced with fear and nervousness. He had a feeling that Aulay would be in the room from which the light was coming from. The odd cave was built into a cliffside which bordered the camp. Head low and tail down, he creeped inside, which revealed to be a massive chamber decorated with assorted ceremonious and ritual objects such as scrolls and furs and such. In his panicked rush, he paid little attention to the torches burning snugly in their sconces, illuminating the otherwise dark chamber. This was, however, to be his error, as his tail brushed against a low torch, knocking it out of it's sconce. The torch hit the stony ground with a woody clatter, and time seemed to slow down for Erlendur. The flames licked at nearby furs, greedily consuming them in unimaginable time. Soon enough, the room was ablaze. The smoke quickly began to clog his sense of smell. Other wolves which happened to be about the chamber dashed around in panic of the fire, trying in vain to put out the fire with the underground puddles before making a mad dash for the exit. Despite this, he continued to search for Aulay amidst the flames. "Aulay!" he howled out for her. "Aulay!" Then, much to his relief, he saw her lean figure evading the flames, heading towards her, silhouetted by the bright, vibrant fire. Yet, when her face became just barely visible, his heart sank for the third time that day. Her face expressed pure anger, mixed with the confusion that came with the one and only pained feeling of betrayal. "You!" You betrayed me!" She howled in rage at him, no longer seemingly bothered by the flames that licked threateningly at her pelt. "I trusted you!" "I'm sorry!" He replied in vain, for at that moment, she bared her teeth and launched for him. He felt rooted to the place as the face so familiar came propelling towards him with malice ablaze in her eyes. She attacked him without mercy or care, and he could't raise a paw to harm her, he simply couldn't. All he could was evade, backing himself into the flames. The chamber was enclosing in flames now, and the passage way out was almost completely blocked off by the raging fires. Only at the last moment did she abandon him to leap through the closing gap to escape. Erlendur stood stunned for a long moment, and only when the flames caught up and danced at his paws did his adrenaline see him through the passage. The fire chased him out, already catching on the grass and trees, turning the whole camp into a blazing inferno. Panicked wolves ran amok in every which way. Despite this, his one thought was still of Aulay, despite her attack. "Aulay!" He called out once, twice, thrice before spotting her to help evacuate the Nursery. "Aulay, you must get out go here!" She turned her head to him, fire reflecting in her eyes. "I don't want to see you here! Begone! I intend never to set eyes on you again!" She growled with a ferocity that finally hit him. He took a final glance at her before pelting off out of the camp, dodging and leaping the flames. The fire was starting to spread over the whole territory in an unchecked rage. Had he, in hope of his own pack, but doomed another? He had just ruined the lives of a whole pack. Such destruction was irrecoverable. He fleeted over the burning land, his eyes half closed from tears. His legs pumped harder than ever before. He ran from the destruction. Away from the pain. Away from Aulay, but most of all; He was running from himself.
